Tourism28 January, 20262 min read
Advertising Standards Authority Bans EasyJet From Using Misleading 'From £5.99' Large Cabin Bag Claim
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ASA ruled EasyJet's claim that cabin bag fees start at £5.99 misleading and banned it ASA found insufficient evidence that £5.99 applied across a meaningful range of routes and dates
5 outlets told this the same way.
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ASA ruling on easyJet prices
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that easyJet misled consumers by advertising large cabin bags as 'from £5.99'. The ASA concluded there was insufficient evidence that this price was genuinely available across a meaningful range of routes and dates and therefore banned the claim.
“The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that easyJet misled consumers by advertising large cabin bags as ‘from £5.99,’ finding there was insufficient evidence that that price was genuinely available across a meaningful range of routes and dates.”
The ASA's decision requires easyJet to ensure future 'from' prices reflect costs available on a significant proportion of flights. The ruling follows concerns about the accuracy of the advertised starting price.
easyJet baggage fees
A Which? investigation of 520 easyJet flights found none offering the advertised £5.99 large cabin bag rate, with the lowest fee at £23.49 and an average add-on of about £30. Which? had flagged a web page stating large cabin bags could be brought on board 'from £5.99,' which prompted the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to assess the claim.
easyJet said the page was informational and that the £5.99 price applied on a range of routes. The airline also argued that prices vary by availability, demand and operational costs, and that the actual price is shown to customers before purchase.
ASA ruling on easyJet fares
The ASA said easyJet did not provide enough evidence that the £5.99 fare was widely available and therefore the 'from' pricing claim was unsubstantiated and misleading. The regulator has banned the airline from using that 'from' claim in marketing unless such a low price is available on a significant proportion of flights.
“The ASA has banned the claim and told easyJet future ‘from’ prices must reflect costs available on a significant proportion of flights.”
It also instructed that future 'from' prices must reflect costs available on a significant proportion of flights. Following the decision, easyJet said it aims to provide clear pricing and adjusted its webpage after the ASA's feedback.
ASA ruling on easyJet pricing
The three sources differ in tone and focus. The Comet focuses on the ASA finding and notes easyJet has adjusted its webpage. It quotes easyJet saying it aims to provide clear pricing, claims some bags are available at the lowest price, and that the webpage was adjusted following the ASA's feedback.
English Mathrubhumi frames the story around a consumer complaint, reporting the ruling came after a complaint from consumer group Which. Cambridge News presents the regulatory condition and easyJet's defence, reporting that easyJet argued prices vary by availability, demand and operational costs and that the actual price is shown before purchase. These differences show consistent factual agreement on the ASA ruling but distinct editorial emphases: the complaint origin, investigative evidence on price gaps, and the airline's explanation and website change.
easyJet pricing ruling
The ruling means easyJet must not advertise large cabin bags as from £5.99 unless it can show that the price is genuinely available on a significant proportion of flights; the ASA found insufficient evidence for that claim. Reporting leaves some practical details ambiguous: none of the sources specify which routes or dates, if any, offered the £5.99 price. However, the reports consistently record the Which? investigation's numeric findings and the ASA's ban and instruction about future from prices.
“A Which? investigation of 520 easyJet flights found none offering the £5.99 rate; the lowest charge seen was £23.49 and the average was about £30.”